Cigarette machine tongue and process for manufacture thereof



Sept. 18, 1951 J. w. WARREN 2,568,690

-CIGARETTE MACHINE TONGUE AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed May 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY J. WQWARREN CIGARETTE MACHINE TONGUE AND PROCESS Sept. 18, 1951 FOR MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed May 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mdr.

'SWW ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1951 J. w. WARREN 2,568,690

.CIGARETTE MACHINE TONGUE AND PROCESS -FOR MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed May 12, 1944 SvSheets-Sheet 3 v xNvEN'roR JAMES W. WARREN ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1951 'CIGARETTE MACHINE TONGU E AlN'DYPROC- ESS FOR rMANUFACTURE THEREOF .James Warren, Lynbrook, N. Y., .assigner .to

American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 12, 1944, Serial No.35;2750

(Cl. v1'31-,66)

v Claims.

.Thisinventionrelates. .to `continuous, rod cigarette vmachines.. more -par-ticularl-y to the con-- s tnuction .-.of #and processv .-for manufacturing the tongue whichV compresses .-into a 'predetermined cross-,section --the continuous layer of shredded tobacco which. is.,.advanced by the cigarette paper into the. rodmormer .wherein the edges of the paper are.ioverlapped.tofformrga cigarette rod.

In .the .operation ofcigarette -machines .it has beenv -found ,thatfdue- `todiferences in different tobacco ,batchespr in :atmospheric conditions, the tobacco layer as vit .is..advanced under the tongue V.will ,occasionally ,hesitate momentarily and thereby create Softspots inthe cigarette rod. 'J'Shis condition .is calledfa chokef and-although it may be-.avoidedby .adjusting the tongue to a slightly higher ;position,..such. .adjustment may create..a wrinkle in the .cigarette paper which neeesstatesadjustment l.of .the .paster section block. Moreover, therefis .a limit to .the extent which the tongue may be adjusted without-varying the .size .of the .cigarette rod.v -With .prolonged use., the. inner .surface-.of the ytongue -becomes glossy. .due .to theiriction of. the .tobacco thereon and chokes .occur .more frequently. Since chokes necessitate .the .adjustment of the tongue and the stdppageof. the .machine, it. will be evident that. considerable cigarette production is thu'slost. y

One of the objects of the. invention is to .pro-

videra' cigarette .machine tongue which .has .an inner surface suitably roughened .or pitted to reduce tthenrmation of chokes. I have discovered that 'the formation of. chokes .may be reduced if the tongue. is roughened .or .pitted by sand-blasting or jindentingithe .inner surf-ace lof .the tongue. The'term sand blasting, ,as used inthe .specication and claims. o'this application, Yis employed .'in a generic .sense .and includes lblasting with ,any ysmalllhard'..oltnjects Such as sand, shot and theflike. IQ have produced indentations on the inner surface. ofthe tongue by blasting the same V.with shot, and severalshot-'blasted tongues have operatedY satisfactorilyin the commercial production of cigarettes. on cigarette machines. However the indent-ations in the inner face of the. 'tongue .may also be produced .by etching, engraving, stamping or rolling; and the indentavtions 'may be arrangedy to. simulate knurling if desired.

If desired, only a v:minor section of the. length of the tongue adjacent the smallerv end` from which the'tobacco layer emerges may be pitted orirou'ghenedfso "that theormation of chokes willsbe minimized. "It should be. noted that the 2 chan-nel. formed in the Ytongue has a breadth which diminishes gradually along its-length 5to-A Ward its-smaller .end where the tobacco iscompressedinto @circular .cross-section for a round cigarette or .an :oval -cross-section for an oval cigarette rod, as the `case .may be. Accordingly, most .of-the compression of the tobacco occurs adjacent thesmallerend of the tongue. Therefore it isV another `object :of the invention. to provide a cigarette machine tongue which v.was roughened .or pitted only at .a portion thereof adjacent its smallerend.

Sincethe .tobacco .iscompressed by the .tongue it .is necessary to hold the .edges of .the .cigarette paper against .the longitudinal .edges of the tongue .to prevent the tobacco from escaping. For thispurpose the block .in which the paper is .guided under the tongue has .a tapering channel. wherein, the .edges .of the .cigarette .paper .are gradually oldedt ,upwardly against the longitudinal .edges .ofthe tongue. If v.theinner surface of. thetongue were .roughened .or pitted over its entire inner surface, the engagement .of .the paper with-.the indentations along the longitudinal. edgesof the .tongue would cause the'paper to ,be torn. Accordingly, .still another object of the invention 'is .to .sorroughen or .pit .the .inner face of. the. tongue. thatthe .portions thereof adjacent its ,longitudinal edges .are smooth. For this. ,purpose .the tongue .may be blanked out in the. iorm of .a nat .strip and `its inner face may be .suitably pitted ,along its length by .sand-blasting, etching, engraving, stamping or rolling, .except .at the .portionsV thereof adjacent its longitudinal edges.. The blank .is then .folded into the customary Ashape wherein it has ,a ,channel of .decreasing breadth. {Ihus a tongue will 'be formed` having, an-jinner .surface which ispitted except along ,its 'longitudinal edges.

With-these and other objects .not specifically mentioned in view, the invention xconsistsin .certaineconstructions .and combinations hereinafter fully described.

.Inljthe accompanying drawings which forma part .or .this .specincat'ionand inwhich .like .characters.of .refereneeindicate the .same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is. a -side-elevation .of .a cigarette machine .tongue embodying .the invention;

Eig. 2 -is a bottom view of the tongue Vshown in ll'ig. 1., showing indentations .on the inner face thereof which. simulate lknurling, the vertical rib being omitted in this view.; Y

`Fig.3`.is .a .similar View of a tongue .in .Whic the. vertical rib-.is omitted and .theffknurling is Fig. is a plan View of a flat blank from which the tongue is formed, the inner face of the blank being pitted by knurling except along the longitudinal edges;

Fig. 6 is an end view from its larger end tongue shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of the rod former of a cigarette machine equipped with the irnproved tongue;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation thereof; and

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the tongueshown in Fig. 1, showing indentations on the inner Vface thereof which have been made by molten metal projected on the surface thereof or by carborundum particles secured thereon.

As shown in Fig. '1, the cigarette machine tongue I0 has a tapering channel wherein the tobacco is compressed while being advanced on the cigarette paper into the rod former. 'I'he tongue I0 may be provided with a rib I'I which is secured to its top by soldering, brazing or welding. The rib I'I is provided with lugs I8 which are supported on a mount hereinafter described, to maintain the tongue in a predetermined relationship to a folder bottom `provided with a tapered channel wherein the cigarette paper advances the continuous layer of shredded tobacco. The inner surface of the tongue may be provided with suitably pitted indentations I2, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, which simulate knurling. Figures 2 and 6 Yof the drawings illustrate knurling of the type wherein indentations are visible to the eye as substantially fine lines representing almost imperceptible depth. The purpose of this showing is to convey an impression of an indentation less in depth than the average width of a cigarette shred. While the indentations I2 resemble diamond knurling, it may be stated that they may be arranged in the form of straight knurling or otherwise.

In Fig. 3 thetongue 20, which also has a ta-V p ering channel wherein the tobacco is compressed while advanced onthe cigarette paper, is shown pitted. with intersecting indentations 22 on the inner surface thereof adjacent the smaller end of tongue 20 from which the tobacco emerges after being compressed to a predetermined crosssection. Indentations 22 may simulate diamond knurling and preferably cover only a minor section of the length of the tongue, and may extend from the smaller end of the tongue to a point short of the middle of the tongue. Otherwise the tongue shown in Fig. 3 is identical with that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

In the case of the tongue 30 shown in Fig. 4, its inner surface is pitted by sand-blasting as indicated by the legend. The pitting provided thereon by sand-blasting serves to reduce the frequency of chokes. It is readily apparent that when sand-blasting, indentations will be formed which will intersect. This will also occur when the indentations in tongues are formed by shot blasting. A number of tongues of this type, wherein the inner surface has been sand-blasted to roughen the same, have been installed on cig-Y arette machines and have been found to operate satisfactorily in commercial production.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a flat sheet metal blank.

4 40 from which the cigarette machine tongue is formed. Blank 40 may be suitably pitted or roughened by indentations 42 extending along its entire length except at the portions thereof adjacent its longitudinal edges. 'Ihese indentations 42 may be produced by etching, engraving, stamping or rolling, or they may bevproduced by sand-blasting. While the indentations 42 are villustrated as arranged to simulate diamond knurling, it will be understood that they may be arranged dierently. 'Ihus when blank 40 is bent into the channel shape shown in Figs. 1-4, a. rib may be secured thereon and the tongue installed on a cigarette machine.

As an `alternative the blank 40 may be sand` blasted or otherwise roughened after being bent into channel form. Moreover roughening of the inner surface of the tongue may be produced by molten metal projected thereon to form an 1meven layer of solidified metal which is suciently rough to reduce choking, or carborundum particlesrmay be secured thereon in a suitable man-f ner such as shown by the tongue 50 in Fig. 10.

The tongue I8 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 is intended to coact with the portion of the rod former shown in Figs. 7-9. The structure shown in Figs;A 7-9 is similar to that shown in the patent to E. D. Smith, No. 2,235,853, issuedMarch25, 1941. and includes a bottom insert III which is adjustable longitudinally in ways formed in a folder bottom or base member II2, constituting part of the supporting structure for the tongue.

This insert is held in place by screws 3I transfixing the walls of the bottom plate II2, and the tongue I0 is disposed between guide plates II3 Awhich are secured by screws I I4 to the folder bottom I I2, the inner upright Walls of the plates II 3 preferably converging in the direction of' The tongue I0 and the folder bottom insert III,k

are slightly narrower at their receiving ends'than' the width of the cigarette paper I5, as shown in Fig. 7, and gradually taper oif to about the diameter of the finished cigarette rod at the delivery end, the paper being carried, with the tobacco T distributed thereon, by the folder tape I6 through the rod-forming mechanism parts III.v III and II3, above mentioned, to and through the usual associated folder, paster and sealer mechanism, in known or suitable manner.

Rib I'I of the tongue I 0 is formed with three lugs, as at I8, two of whichrpreferably project from the same side of the tongue, being spaced apart by nearly the entire length of the rib I 'I,` while the third lug I8 extends medially from the other side of the tongue, as shown in Fig. 7. In each of the lugs I8 is carried a vertical set-screw I9 adapted toengage a stopsurface I2I on one of the two side blocks I2I, each of these two*` blocks being preferably co-extensive in length with one of the underlying guide blocks II3, and beingsecured thereupon by the cap screws II4 which transx the `blocks II3 and I2I and are set into the bottom block I I2. TwoV set-screws I22 with lock nuts. I22a, and a thumb screw |23, all three of these screws-transxing the blocks I2I, bear against the lugs I8 and determine the angular position of the tongue I0.

The lock nuts and I22a serve to fix the tongue I 0 in its desired `position of adjustment.. The'tongue is maintained in its set position against the .three point bearing determined by the on'act'of set screws I9 with the faces |20 of the blocks; I-q2|-1by1releasable tmeans -comprising thefscrew I-|12!! which-lis supportedfinfan 'farm FZ5 E225 on the block 421. ",Ihisfthumbzvscrew 1524, when-ibrought down Aon top -of 4the rib I-Ii'l, secures the tongue in Vitsoperative position.

iIn :the .event that it becomes desirablef1to-re mo-ve vthe tongue f'l "for-.examination and repair, replacement or adjustment, the thu-mbscrewl 24 is'lbacked-off, and the arm l25flis Aswung around, so that fthe tongue A.can vbe 'lifted lclear after the thumb screw `1213 has .beenibacked-o'if. As fthe setting :of 4'screws I9 and I122-has not -been :distur-bed, the tongue Il) v:can 'befreturnedfltonts identical .originalA :position when the fabove' .describedpperation shall `have beenpreform'ed.

"For-the -salte `of convenience in locating the-positionwhere thethumb :screw |211` is over the middle-vof the longitudinal rib lli'l, :a :pinv 12:1 `is preferablyiplaced in the firon'tflocating ELblock 4lI-2 I andacts as. a )stop-when. the-lug 28-on :fthe arm IEElbrin-gs up against-it, -Las illustrated in'Fig. il. In order lto `prevent `the ftongue i I 0- from 'being displaced longitudinally 'from its setfposition, wings'29 'may be provided on one of the llugs LIB, as shown `infliigs."FIfand 8, sof-arrangedias to '-t diametrically across the-slot 30a inthe front locating'block 12|'. n

To the tongues Z0 and Bil `shown 1in lFigs. '3 :and 4, ,there :may Valso be secured a 'rib l*similari-to rib F1 and provided `with"-lugslsimilar to lugs l8,:after which Itheymay be mountedvon the type V4offrod formers'hownin ffFigs. 7`9.

The invention above described -may--Ibe-var-ied in 'construction withinthe scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of.` many 'possible embodiments of Ythe same. The,,inventi0nlhreforeis not to 'be restricted to 'the precisedetails df the structure shown and described'.

What isclaimed--ist 1. A cigarette machine ftengue comprising'fanv elongated )channel shaped ,member having =a curi/:ed :cross-'section and,adapte.dl-to compress to a-predetermined cross-section ala-yer orf-,tobacco advanced -on` a traveling cigarette paper web, the :concave tobacco engaging faceof saidymember'beingpitted, ,saidA pits having` a depth Eless than v.the average width of fcigarettew-tobaeco shredsoperated on by said ltongue and--having unintersected lengths less than the width of the tongue.

2. A cigarette machine tongue comprising an elongated channel shaped member adapted to compress to a predetermined cross-section a layer of tobacco advanced on a traveling cigarette paper Web, the tobacco engaging face of said member being irregularly pitted, similar to that obtained by sand-blasting.

3. A cigarette machine tongue comprising an elongated channel shaped member having a curved cross section and adapted to compress to a predetermined cross-section a layer of tobacco advanced on a traveling cigarette paper web, the concave tobacco engaging face of said member being pitted, with indentations extending across said face, said indentations having a depth less than the average width of cigarette tobacco shreds operated on by said tongue.

4. A cigarette machine tongue comprising an elongated channel shaped member having a curved cross section and adapted to compress to a predetermined cross-section a layer of tobacco advanced on a traveling cigarette paper web, the concave tobacco engaging face of said member being pitted along its entire length except at the 'portions fther'eof adjacent :the longitudinal Eedges' thereof, said pits having aldepth lessfthan the averageewidthzfof :cigarette tobacco `lshreds iop# eratedvon-fby said'tOngue, l'and having unintersectedflengths less 'than' the .width :of the rtongue. i5'. A cigarette machine .tongue comprisingfan elongated channel v*shaped member having fa curvedicross sectionadaptedto compressa-:layer of-,lto'bacc'o advanced on a traveling'cigarette paper 4:Web itoaa predetermined .cross-section, ithe concave `tobacco engaging face of said ymember being pitted by indentations extendingoveronly afportion of saidrf'ace, :said indentations ,having a deplth less thanrtheaverage Width of cigarette tobacco shreds roperatedvon by said tongue yand having unintersected'lengths less 'thanthe width of thetongue. r

cigarette machine tongue comprising..an elongated tapered channel shaped .memberxhaving a5curved Vcross section and adapted'to `corn*- press-tofa predetermined cross-section a layerfof tobaccoadvanced on:a traveling cigarette paper Web, the concave itobacco engaging face of lsaid memberfbeing providedwith intersecting indentations. '7. r A cigarette machine tongue comprising an elongated tapered channel :shaped memberihaving `apura/'ed `cross section vand adapted ".to =com press Ato -a predetermined cross-section a :layera'of tobacco advanced-on 1.a traveling 'cigarette paper web, the concave tobacco engaging face 'of said member being provided with 'intersecting .indentations, said indentationssimulating diamond knurling. 3 A fc'igarettemachine tongue comprisingzan elongated tapered channel shaped a member havin'g-.acurvedv cross section and adapted to :comi--V press to. a predetermined crossesection alayer :of tobacco advanced :on a 4traveling cigarette. paper web, the concave'- tobacco .engaging face '.of zsaid member 'being provided with intersecting .indentations, said indentations being `forrned'only on'a'iminor'portion ofthe length of said face .adjacent the--exit.end ofsaid member. Y

F9. Ina-cigarette fmachine, the combination'` w'itha tongue having an elongated member:l providedv With-atapering -channel `curved in cross sectionaandvadapted to compress .to azpredeter-v mi-nedcross-sec'tion a Alayer of tobacco advanced oma-traveling cigarette .paper web, .of a-suppnrt for said paper 'web having .a .tapering :channel wherein the paper web is guided underneath said tongue, the channel in said support being constructed and arranged to maintain the edges of the paper web in engagement With the longitudinal edges of said member, and the concave inner surface of the channel in said member being provided with individual transversely extending indentations, each having a depth less than the average Width of cigarette tobacco shreds operated on by said channel in said member except at the portions of said concave surface adjacent the longitudinal edges of said member to avoid tearing of the paper Web While it is held against said longitudinal edges.

10. Ina cigarette machine, the combination with a tongue having an elongated member provided With a tapering channel of curved cross section and adapted to compress to a predetermined cross-section a layer of tobacco advanced on a traveling cigarette paper web, of a support for said paper web having a tapering channel wherein the paper web is guided underneath said concave channel, the channel in said support being constructed and arranged to maintain the edges of the paper Web in engagement with the aseaoeo longitudinal edges of said member, the inner surface of the channel in said member being scarred with scars of a depth less than the average width of a cigarette tobacco shred operated on by said channel and having unintersected lengths less than the Width of the channel along its entire length to minimize the formation of chokes in the Vtobacco advanced through said channel except at the portions thereof adjacent the'longitudinal edges of said member to avoid tearing of the .paper web while it is held against said longitudinal edges.

11. A process for manufacturing a cigarette machine tongue comprising forming a tapered sheet metal blank, pitting one surface of said blank with pits of a depth that are less than the average width of cigarette tobacco shreds to be operated on by said blank, said pits extending across the width of said blank except along its longitudinal edges, and folding said pitted blank transversely to form a cigarette machine tongue having a longitudinal channel with the pitted surface on the inner face of said tongue.

Y12. In a cigarette rod former wherein a con.- tinuously traveling cigarette paper web is folded upwardly about a layer of tobacco carried by the paper web to form a cylindrical cigarette rod, the combination with a member having a concave face conforming to the curvature of the cigarette rod positioned above and coacting with said paper web to produce a cylindrical cigarette rod, said face extending longitudinally of the direction of travel of the paper web and being pitted with indentations of a depth less than the average width of cigarette tobacco shreds operated on by said member and having unintersected lengths less than the width of the member to prevent interruption of the movement of said tobacco layer during the formation of a cigarette rod in the rod former, of means for supporting said member in operative relation to the traveling cigarette paper web.

13. In a cigarette machine, the combination with an elongated tongue provided with a tapering channel having a curved cross section and adapted to compress to a predetermined crosssection a layer of tobacco advanced on a traveling cigarette paper web, of a support for said paperweb underlying said tongue, said support having a tapering channel wherein the paper web is guided underneath said tongue and the edges of the web are folded upwardly against the tongue While the layer of tobacco is compressed by the concave tongue, the inner face of said tongue being pitted to minimize choking of the layer of tobacco in the tongue, said pits having a depth less than the average Width of cigarette tobacco shreds operated on by said tongue and having unintersected lengths less than the width of the tongue.

14. A process for manufacturing a cigarette machine tongue comprising forming a pitted surface on one face of a tapered sheet metal blank with pits of a depth less than the average width of` cigarette tobacco shreds operated on by said tongue and having unintersected lengths less than the width of the tongue and folding the blank transversely to form a cigarette machine tongue having a longitudinal channel with the pitted surface on the inner face of said tongue.

15. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a tongue having a tapering elongated channel having a curved cross section and adapted to compress to a predetermined cross section a layer of tobacco advanced on a traveling cigarette paper web, of a support for said paper web having a tapering channel wherein the paper web is guided under said tongue, the concave tobacco engaging face of said tongue being pitted only at the portion thereof adjacent the end of said tongue from which said tobacco layer emerges,

said pits having a depth less than the average width of'cigarette tobacco shreds operated on by said tongue and having unintersected lengths less than the width of the tongue.

JAMES W. WARREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

